ye hi saṁsparśa-jā bhogā duḥkha-yonaya eva te ādy-antavantaḥ kaunteya na teṣu ramate budhaḥ
"Pleasures born of contact are only sources of suffering, for they have a beginning and an end, O Arjuna. The wise person does not delight in them."
What This Means:
Pleasures that come from sense contact with objects are actually sources of suffering. Why? Because they begin and end—they're temporary. The wise person doesn't find lasting satisfaction in them because they know these pleasures will end, often leaving more craving.
Going Deeper:
'Samsparsha-ja bhoga' (pleasures born of contact) require an object and are therefore dependent and temporary. 'Duhkha-yonaya' (wombs of suffering) is strong—these pleasures actually breed suffering because they create attachment, end in loss, and generate craving for more. 'Ady-antavanta' (having beginning and end) is the fundamental problem. The 'budha' (wise) doesn't 'ramate' (delight) in what cannot provide lasting satisfaction.
How To Apply This:
Before chasing the next pleasure, ask: 'This will end—then what?' The meal ends, the high fades, the excitement passes. Each temporary pleasure carries hidden suffering: the anxiety of getting it, the disappointment when it ends, the craving for more. The wise invest in what doesn't expire.
Key Sanskrit Terms: